Monday, June 9, 2025 - Tory
leader, Kemi Badenoch has proposed drafting a new law mandating immigrants wait
ten years before they can claim any benefits or get British passport
In a new article for Daily Mail, the UK politician born to
Nigerian parents, urged the government to only issue social benefits to
immigrants after ten years.
Read excerpts of the article below
The issue of
immigration is a clear one for the Conservative Party: it must be tackled in
all forms, legal and illegal.
This is a
matter of fairness. Britain increasingly appears to favour those who break the
rules, arriving illegally and then disregarding the customs and values of the
country. Meanwhile, those who work hard and follow the law are left to cover
the cost.
Public
awareness is high regarding the billions spent on housing asylum seekers in
hotels. Less widely known is that low-paid immigrants and refugees can qualify
for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ after just five years. This status allows them
access to benefits such as social housing and Universal Credit—regardless of
whether they’ve contributed through taxes or lived off the state.
Such a
policy undermines the contributions of British citizens who have paid into the
system and played by the rules. It is fundamentally unfair, and reform is
essential.
The Labour
Government recently voted against a proposed Deportation Bill that would have
taken steps to address these issues. The bill aimed to implement a strict cap
on immigration and extend the waiting period to claim benefits or apply for
citizenship from five to ten years. It also sought to prevent anyone who had
claimed benefits from receiving indefinite leave to remain and would have
enabled the government to revoke settled status from those convicted of crimes.
The bill was
designed to protect the integrity of the benefits system and ensure a fairer
immigration process. Yet it was blocked, much like previous attempts to address
illegal immigration—such as the plan to deport offenders to Rwanda, which
became tied up in lengthy legal challenges.
Legal
obstacles have consistently derailed other initiatives. Reforms to the welfare
system proposed by former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, which could
have saved £5 billion, were similarly stalled in court, giving the current
government the justification to abandon them.
This growing
trend—where legal action is used to obstruct democratic policymaking—is known
as lawfare. Even when unsuccessful, it creates delays and costs that stifle
government action and erode public confidence. The country risks becoming
paralyzed by its own legal framework.
To address
this, a commission has been established under the leadership of Lord Wolfson KC
and the shadow solicitor general Helen Grant. Their task is to determine
whether essential reforms—like controlling borders, protecting public
resources, and restoring fairness—can be enacted while remaining a signatory to
the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
If the commission concludes that meaningful reform is not possible within the ECHR, then a withdrawal may be necessary. This would be done with careful consideration to safeguard basic human rights.The greater danger lies in allowing lawfare to weaken the nation—making it less fair, less safe, and less democratic. There is a clear commitment to uphold British values, protect democracy, and ensure the interests of citizens come first.
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